Buzz: West Nile Virus Arrives Earlier than Usual

2008 June 24
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by narmer
A field sample of mosquitoes that could carry West Nile Virus is seen at offices of the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health on April 26, 2007 in Hemet, California. California health officials announced this week that West Nile Virus season is starting earlier than usual because of an unusually warm March. Mosquitoes that carry the virus have begun breeding earlier than usual and the West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquito pools, birds, or horses in eight California counties. Although the virus has not been detected in humans so far this year, 24 people have died and 1,200 sickened by the virus over the past two years in California. West Nile can be transmitted from infected birds, squirrels, and other animals to humans and animals such as horses through several varieties of female mosquitoes. The disease first appeared in the United States in 1999 in New York and killed hundreds of people during its westward expansion before gaining a firm foothold in California in 2004. In reaction to the early start of West Nile Virus season, the California State Legislature this week declared April 23-29

Mosquito The Health Department has detected West Nile virus in New York City mosquitoes for the first time this season. The virus, isolated in Port Richmond, Staten Island on June 18, has arrived earlier than usual. No human cases have been detected. The Health Department will start dispersing aerial larvicide in non-residential areas of Staten Island, the Bronx and Queens to reduce mosquito populations. Surveillance and control efforts will continue through the summer.

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